I've been covering Albion home and away since they dropped into League One in 2006-07.

Within a few weeks of joining the circuit, I realised there was a sentence I kept hearing from more senior media colleagues.

“There’s never a dull moment covering the Albion,” I’d get from people who had been through the 1990s, the move to Withdean, two titles and the promotion play-offs.

I’d nod politely and agree and think to myself: “Actually, there are LOADS of dull moments.”

And there were as Albion, for totally understandable reasons, struggled to challenge in League One with their mix of young locals and cheap signings in a tiny, temporary home.

There were those back-to-back Saturdays with barely a shot as they shared goalless draws with Port Vale and Rotherham.

“I saw Brighton’s match last week and it was exactly the same as this one,” we were told post-match by Rotherham boss Alan Knill (pronounced “Nil”).

So it has been dull at times. And not just then.

Also towards the end of the 2014-15 season as Chris Hughton secured safety in shot-shy fashion while preparing his now historic summer facelift of the squad and playing style.

One morning, with four home games still to play, the club announced they were introducing goal music at the Amex. Noon passed and Albion revealed it was all an April’s Fool hoax. It was just as well they did. Otherwise, we would never have found out for sure.

That has all changed. International breaks aren’t even quiet any more.

By and large, we have lived through a period of Albion’s history which will be cherished like the 1970s, which kids 30 years from now will find fascinating and want to ask all about.

Now stand by for the most “never a dull moment” period Albion have had for years, maybe ever if you look only at events on the pitch. The FA Cup, Wembley, two Premier League games per week and a fight to stay up.

It won’t be dull. That doesn’t mean it will all be fun.

That period of not dullness starts with one of two fixtures in which Albion will have to tread carefully - Southampton at home (the other being Cardiff at home).

I suspect many at St Mary’s, be it playing staff, fans or at boardroom level, see themselves as a better team and a bigger and better club than Albion They will be confident of proving it on Saturday.

That all explains why Albion have been keen to focus on the league this week.

FA Cup excitement is refused entry at the manned security gates to their training complex in Lancing.

I was a bit surprised not to be screened for any symptoms of cup fever when I turned up this week.

Yes, there are some statutory media commitments related to the semi-finals going on. Those were being left in the safe hands of Glenn Murray, Mathew Ryan and Hughton himself when I was there on Tuesday. But the message the club were keen to put across was that all thoughts are on the league for now.

Back in 1983, Albion reached the FA Cup final in a blaze of glory and publicity under their flamboyant boss Jimmy Melia – and were ever so quietly relegated at the same time.

Back then, it felt like the league was a bit boring compared to the cup run.

Hauntingly, perhaps, Albion went down when they lost their final home game of the season – against Manchester City. We all know which club will help bring the curtain down on the current home campaign on May 12.

That is just one reason why the message in-house has to be: “Forget the FA Cup for now.”

That approach might seem dull to some. Believe me – it isn’t.